Two Latin American films won awards at the 37th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. Runa Simi, the debut documentary feature by Peruvian filmmaker Augusto Zegarra, received the Ibero-American Award, while the Panamanian drama Querido Trópico (Beloved Tropic), the debut fiction feature by director Ana Endara, was awarded the Desert Views Award, which honors films promoting "understanding and acceptance between people."
Runa Simi, a heartwarming portrait of resilience, follows a father and son’s mission to dub The Lion King into Quechua, an effort to preserve their endangered language and culture.
“We chose Runa Simi because it reminds us of the importance of being seen, and of preserving language, identity, and community," the jury stated. "Its remarkable protagonist inspires not only future generations but also future leaders. The film speaks to the universal need to express oneself and to claim a place alongside stories traditionally told by major Hollywood studios. It is deeply moving to encounter a story that does not sugarcoat struggle yet still offers hope.”
Set in Panama City, Querido Trópico is a tender, atmospheric drama exploring the evolving relationship between two lonely souls. Ana María, a Colombian immigrant working as a home caregiver while harboring a secret, crosses paths with Mercedes, a high-society woman whose encroaching dementia slowly erases her identity.
The jury was deeply moved by the film, noting: “Set against a stunning, lush landscape, the film’s natural backdrop mirrors the richness of Mercedes’ inner life. Beloved Tropic honors the quiet strength required to love and care for someone through their memory’s unraveling. It affirms that even in fragmentation, connection endures.”
The 37th edition of the Palm Springs International Film Festival took place January 2–12, 2026, in California.
